I’m overdue to upgrade my cell phone, which I bought in 2003. My current phone has been, for me at least, a very reliable LG VX6000.
I’ve been drooling over the iPhone with its visual voice mail, integrated Google Maps, Safari browser, slick email, and beautiful screen. But alas, as everyone knows, the iPhone works on AT&T only, and I’m a Verizon customer with nearly a year left in his contract.
Verizon’s Wireless’ most comparable phone is the new LG Voyager. I used the Voyager briefly in the store and concluded that while it has some nice attributes — its flip-out keyboard is much easier to use than the iPhone’s error-prone keyboard — it’s a poor iPhone imitation it most regards.
But again, the iPhone is on AT&T. I’ve been using Verizon Wireless in the Washington DC area and around the country for nearly ten years and am rather pleased with their coverage.
My experience is validated by Consumer Reports’ latest cellular survey, which is published in their January 2008 issue. It’s survey of 47,629 respondents resulted in rankings of the major carriers in 20 metropolitan areas. Verizon Wireless came in on top everywhere except in the three cities where Alltel has a major presence (Cleveland, Phoenix, and Tampa).
Leaving Alltel out, the rankings were uniformly in this order:
- Verizon Wireless
- T-Mobile
- AT&T
- Sprint
Of AT&T, Consumer Reports wrote: “home of the iPhone but trails the better carriers in almost all respects.”
So I’m sticking with my trusty LG VX6000 for the time being. Thanks to pressure from Apple’s iPhone and Google’s new Android project, new developments in mobile technology seem ripe in 2008.
Here is the Consumer Reports Magazine’s cover story on their cellular survey, but not ratings are available to paying subscribers only.
Share This